Pumpkins and Halloween!

PUMPKINS AND HALLOWEEN!  Oh my goodness I really didn't realize how far behind I was!  So!  October 31st equals the carving of pumpkins and Halloween festivities!  I think a good time was had by all.  I think our pumpkins turned out pretty well and the extra Zombie and Dr. Who I had at my house were pretty awesome as well!

Carving Pumpkins!

I went the simple and easy route :)

From bottom to top = Celine, Tom & ME

Zoe was feeling trapped behind the bars :)

Dr. Who & Zombie!

I couldn't resist!  Delaney's butt glowed :)  Front to back = Delaney, someone I don't know, Taylor, Celine & Skyler

 

Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze

Looking at all the pictures I realized how INSANELY far behind I was on keeping up!  So, just in case this is the first post you're hitting, there are 2 more that are new before it, and one might have to do with Christmas!

So, BEHOLD, Pumpkin patch, petting zoo and corn maze fun!  Sometime in October we headed out with the Voorhees clan (FYI, Jason's real name is JASON VOORHEES and his birthday is October 31st.  MIND BLOWN!  Google it if you don't understand) to the pumpkin patch and corn maze out in Fruita!  We got to check out chickens and pigs, get tons of corn stuffed in our purses while trying to find our way through the maze AND just general fun!  Enjoy!

Slim pickings for pumpkins

Celine checking out the piglets

lost in the cornmaze

Tossing corn and secretly stashing kernels in purses was the theme of the afternoon :)

Seriously!  Can't take Sara ANYWHERE!

Somewhere in the maze!

Her head is rather spherical!

What?

Tom, Celine and Sara

OH LOOK!  We found Morgan & Skyler too.

 

Changing of the leaves at Powderhorn

It probably would have made more sense if I did all my catch up posts in order.  Alas, just like the icing and the cake baking, I can't seem to get the order right.  If you're seeing this post, there's some previous posts you should see as well!  Make sure you catch them all!

Every year in October, Powderhorn Ski Resort opens its lifts so that guests can enjoy the beautiful colors that come with the changing of the leaves.  I love it because I get a better look at the ski runs without all the snow and try to figure out if there are any that don't look AS treacherous without snow that may be worth going down when the powder hits!  Alas, none ever do!  

This year, Tom and I took Skyler and Celine up to enjoy some music and a very cold chairlift ride up to check out some of the beauty that the Grand Valley has to offer.  If you haven't been here, I hope this helps you decide to check it out for yourself!

 

2012 Christmas Lights Tour!

I've just realized that the best time to update the blog is during the in between times of cooking on Christmas Eve.  I'm currently in the middle of trying to recreate my stepmoms most awesome 12 layer chocolate cake.  I'm optimistic but will maintain low expectations as I can't seem to get the altitude differential factored in for the cake layers!  And goodness knows I can never figure out when to start the chocolate frosting and end up with one done before the other :)  Here's hoping!

On to more exciting things!  This past Friday, after an overly stressful 2 weeks at work, we decided to get in the festive mood and went on a 2 hour limo ride around Grand Junction to look at all the Christmas Lights displays!  To say they were impressive is an understatement!  Unfortunately, pictures of the light displays didn't turn out to be more than streaking lights when we pulled them up on the computer.  So, I leave you with a few pictures of the group, and streaky Christmas lights!  Just know they were amazing!  I think it's going to be a yearly tradition!  It was great to have someone else driving and not having to worry about where to go, driving and trying to look at the lights!  We also found great places we would have never known even had lights!

Zoe and Celine thought that in front of the fireplace was much warmer than going out in the snow :)

The Gang!  Celine, Denny, Mom and Skyler

Festive lights

I would hate to see their electric bill!

Goodnight Frosty!

 

Swim Meets

Swim meets are in full swing! Skylers swimming club swim and Celine is swimming high school! This weekend was a high school meet in town so we took a seat to take pictures and watch Celine compete :0). For not overly excited for meets, she's doing pretty awesome!

Homecoming 2012

Yes, I'm playing catch up!  Obviously, we're all still living in a Disney World coma.  2 months after our trip and we're still wishing we were waking up to head out to the Magic Kingdom!  So, hang with me while I try to update on what has been happening around here for the past 2 months.

Celine is a Junior at Grand Junction High School!  At the end of September they celebrated Homecoming!  This is a yearly tradition where the students spend a week celebrating their High School and ending with a pep rally at school, a great Football game and a dance!  Most days in this week are themed so you can dress up however they have designated that day.  Sometimes it's 50's day or pajama day, etc.  It just depends on what the Homecoming committee has set up!

So, Celine, fully enjoyed homecoming!  She said her favorite part was the pep rally at the end of the school day before the big football game!  This is where all the kids get together in the gym and show their school spirit with chants, music and performances from the dance and cheer squads!  I believe the marching band also roamed the halls playing a few songs that day!

The Saturday following the football game was the Homecoming Dance!  Celine has a great group of friends she was able to go with!  I am so glad she's getting to experience everything that the American culture has to offer and is really embracing all aspects of it!

Nicole, Taylor and Celine at the Pep Rally

Group shot of all the kids before heading off to the dance!

Homecoming Court that was crowned during the football game

Celine, Nicole and Taylor enjoying the game!

Nicole and Celine before heading out to the dance!

Group shot of some of the girls!

DISNEY WORLD... a few weeks late :)

Between home life, work, the girls school and me working on my Masters, life gets busy..... FAST!  So, that being said, please enjoy a few of our Disney Pictures over a month late!

We left for Disney World on September 11th and returned home on the 16th!  To say we had a blast is an understatement!  I thought the highlight would be going to the "Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party!"  It turns out, the highlight was getting to be the GRAND MARSHALS of the afternoon parade!  Mom, who has been to Disney World a gazillion times and never had the honor of being chosen to do this (even though I think she owns half the park with the amount of money she allocates to them every year!)  Needless to say, SHE was over the moon.  Maybe she can tell us one more time what time we need to be to the firehouse so we can get into our Grand Marshal Car :)

We stayed on the property at the military's "Shades of Green Resort".  It was awesome!  The rooms were huge, the people were great and we were right by the monorail to take us to all the parks!  We managed to hit them all in our 4 days:  Disney, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios!  It was fabulous!  Here are some pictures!